McClain: Texans Kollar's message loud, clear

Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Buffalo defensive end Aaron Schobel laughed good-naturedly when he was asked Tuesday what the Texans’ defensive linemen can expect from new assistant head coach/defensive line Bill Kollar.

Kollar coached defensive lines for three teams over the last 19 years, including the last three with the Bills.

“I respect him as a coach, but he’s different now; I’ll tell you that,” said Schobel, a native Texan who’s back home in Columbus. “He’s a loud mouth; that’s for sure. I mean, he loves to yell.

“But let me tell you something: He’ll get the most out of them. They’ll know what’s expected of them, and they will play hard for him. At least they’d better.”

Or else.

Getting the best out

“You’re not going to change him,” Schobel said, chuckling. “I tried many times, but I was never able to. He’s set in his ways.

“One reason he’s a great coach is that he knows what he wants from players, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get it out of them. If they don’t run to the ball, well, they just better run to the ball.”

Schobel mentioned several times about Kollar demanding that his linemen run to the ball no matter where the ball is on the field.

“And I believe you do it in practice, too,” Kollar said. “I try to get the most out of my guys. I want them to play as hard as they can play. What I’ll be doing is trying to get them to fly around the ball.

“We want everybody that’s out on the field being able to play 100 percent at all times.”

Drill sergeant mentality

If Kollar were in the military, he’d be a drill sergeant at boot camp. He’s tough on his players, but they respect him because they know he’s trying to make them be the best they can be.

Most coaches are demanding, though. Many are screamers.

The key is finding a coach who can get through to his players, a coach who’ll take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses — a coach who won’t insist his players do something they’re not very good at doing.

Coaches who scream at players all the time can get tuned out. Then the message is lost. The Texans shouldn’t have a problem hearing Kollar’s message. There shouldn’t be a communication problem.

Listening to Kollar on Tuesday when he met with reporters for the first time since getting the job, he spoke with such resonance that he sounded like a public address announcer who didn’t need a sound system.

“He’s constantly pushing you to get better,” Schobel said.

Push it real good

Kollar would love to have more defensive linemen like Schobel — mentally and physically tough, high motor, flexible body, terrific pass rusher.

Schobel is 6-4 and plays at 245 to 250 because he has the strength to go with the quickness that allowed him to register a career-high 14½ sacks in 2006, his first season with Kollar.

Last season, Schobel suffered a foot injury that allowed him to play in only five games, the fewest of his career.

“If you’re a veteran and you get banged up, he understands, because he played the game,” Schobel said. “Now, if you’re a rookie, man, you better be ready.”

Good reference

Kollar’s style of wanting his players to get off the ball quickly and get up field to try to get the quarterback bodes well for the Texans being able to acquire lighter defensive ends in the 250-pound range like Schobel.

“I’m a little surprised it happened,” Schobel said about Buffalo letting Kollar out of his contract to come to Houston. “I enjoyed playing for him.

“I really liked him off the field, too. Now that he’s in Houston and I’m in Columbus, we can get together and play golf.”